On November 13, 2019, Qatar Airways announced its choice to equip its new Airbus A321neo fleet with CFM LEAP-1A engines. The order worth $4 billion will allow CFM International to power 50 new Airbus aircraft, the largest A321neo fleet of the Middle East. This multi-billion dollars contract is announced exactly a week after another billion dollars agreement for LEAP-1A to power Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The national airline of the State of Qatar has also signed with CFM a Rate-Per-Flight-Hour (RPFH) support agreement to cover its entire fleet of LEAP-1A engines, including spares.

Qatar Airways, the world’s fastest-growing airline, currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The national carrier has been a CFM customer since 2015 and currently operates a fleet of eight CFM56-5B-powered A320ceo family aircraft. The first LEAP-1A-powered A321neo is scheduled to be delivered in 2020.